American Idol may have produced more stars than The Voice, but the latter show is beating the former one in terms of viewers.
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According to The U.S. Sun, The Voice‘s March 17 episode raked in 5,237,000 viewers. Meanwhile, American Idol‘s March 16 installment had only 4,510,000 people tuning in.
Even Idol‘s season premiere couldn’t top The Voice. On March 9, Idol had 4,494,000 viewers, while The Voice raked in 5,470,000 the following night. Additionally, when The Voice aired its season premiere on Feb. 3, it had 5,684,000 viewers tuning in, which more than one million more than Idol‘s premiere.
The sole time Idol topped The Voice is when the former show had some lead-in help from the Oscars when it aired a preview of the then-forthcoming season on March 2. That preview had 5,905,000 viewers, while The Voice‘s episode the following night had 5,646,000 people tuning in.
Big Changes for American Idol and The Voice
The competition series’ viewership numbers come amid big shake ups for both shows. On the latest season of Idol, the show said goodbye to Katy Perry as a judge. Carrie Underwood, who won Idol 20 years ago, stepped in to take Perry’s place.
While Underwood signing on for the show was exciting to many, others decided to boycott the series after the singer performed at the presidential inauguration.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood told People of her decision to perform. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Idol showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick broke her silence on the situation in a recent interview with The Wrap.
“That was her decision,” Michaels Wolflick said. “Katy Perry, who was a judge on our show, sang at the last inauguration as well, so isn’t that great that two American Idol judges sang at the last two inaugurations?”
Meanwhile, on The Voice, fan-favorite coach Adam Levine returned after a six-year hiatus. He joined newcomer Kelsea Ballerini, last season’s winner Michael Bublé, and on-and-off coach John Legend on the series.
“I just felt like it was time. I had some time to reflect and do my thing and be with my family,” Levine told E! News of his return. “I was ready to do it, then the stars aligned and here I am.”
Photo by Art Streiber/NBC via Getty Images
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